* Gauged by the number of needles retained on January 1st by a tree cut on Thanksgiving and well cared for thereafter. Poor does not mean the tree will simply be a bunch of barren twigs – it will still look presentable, but significantly sparser than when it was cut.

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Because of their naturally pleasing form, strong branches, and dark color, Fraser Firs are highly prized as Christmas trees. Unfortunately, they simply will not grow in Kentucky, forcing us to ship pre-cut Fraser Firs in from a North Carolina supplier. Even in North Carolina where conditions for their growth are ideal, it still takes Frasers nearly twice as long to reach saleable size compared to other Christmas trees.

Fraser Fir have a dark blue-green color on the tops of their needles and a silvery-blue color on the underside, leading to a delightfully aesthetic contrast. Also, their sturdy branches can support everything shy of the kitchen mixer, and they emit a noticeable aroma. However, they are deficient in the area of needle retention. On average, even a well cared for Fraser will lose 50% of its needles a month or so after being cut. Perhaps worse is the large inconsistency of the tree in this regard. Though the average is 50%, some trees will lose almost all of their needles in a month, while others will keep almost all. Nonetheless, of the true Firs they are still among the best at needle retention.